Child resistant seat belt

ABSTRACT

A permanent enhancement for seat belts and child safety seat belt buckles that is resistant to release by children. The device is molded from rubber, plastics, polymers, or composite materials as to not be excessive in size and it can be color coded to match the materials used in the vehicle or child safety seat. The force required to release the belt can be controlled through material choice and the size of the release button. Thus, discouraging the untimely release of the seat belt buckle.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a non-provisional patent application having Ser. No. 60/345,906 filed on Oct. 29, 2001, which is owned by the same inventors.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to seat belt restraint devices, and, more particularly, to a seat belt restraint for children.

[0003] Child safety is among the most important issues of today's parents. These concerns are heightened in the area of automobile safety. When children reach the age/size where the use of a toddler child safety seat or a booster seat is warranted, parents are subjected to the frustration and danger that is presented by these devices.

[0004] Seat belts save lives. Most people wear seat belts and many states have enacted seat belt use laws. Many laws require infant, child seats, and booster seats for children below a specific age/weight. This device can be used with a seat belt or child safety seat alone or in any combination.

[0005] The problem addressed is, as many parents know, children at that age resist restraint, exploring the world, and are prone to play with the buckles that secure the seat belt, creating a dangerous situation should the buckle become released. As a result parents must monitor their children which creates the additional risk of taking their eyes off the road. To complicate the issue, a child may release the seat belt and the parent may not realize that the seat belt is unbuckled and this could increase the seriousness of injuries if involved in an accident. Other times the rider may release the seat belt and move about the vehicle or cause harm to other passengers, or interfere with the driver.

[0006] It is a serious problem when riders can release the seat belt themselves at inappropriate times. If the driver notices the belt is released they must stop the vehicle and reattach the belt. This is inconvenient at the least and can require stopping on busy street or highway posing a hazard to the person who exits the car, if necessary, to reattach the belt. Many cities have expanded the roads within and around the city and added medians to the point where no safe egress is available. This creates a situation in which the is attempting to negotiate through traffic while trying to get a child to reattach the belt.

[0007] When the belt is re-attached the rider will often times release the belt again requiring attention, to once again reattach the belt.

[0008] Accordingly, the need has arisen for a means by which the child is denied the ability to release the seat belt.

[0009] Others have attempted to prevent a child from releasing the seat belt by providing devices which limit access to the seat belt lock. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,303 to Salcone and U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,094 to Morris disclose seat belt covers which require the use of a key in order to be released. Such an arrangement seems dangerous and thus undesirable, in that it might prevent emergency personnel from releasing the child from the automobile by following an accident.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,767 to Reitsma discloses a closure device security cover which has a top half which secures over the seat belt lock with a series of flanges selectively engaged into slots. Unfortunately, because Reitsma is a two piece construction, the components of which are not permanently attached to each other, it seems quite likely that a user will quickly loose one or both pieces thereof.

[0011] U.S. Pat No. 4,731,912 to Boriskie et al. discloses a seat belt buckle guard which is hinged on one side, and has a latch on the opposite side. With this configuration, there is no reason why a child could not unlatch the device and release the seat belt.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,277 to Portuese discloses a child-proof seat belt restraint which requires the adult to place their hand in an elongated channel to release the seat belt. The theory of operation is that a child's hand is too small to reach into the channel far enough to release the seat belt. However, Portuese seems to provide an open invitation for a child to get his or her hand stuck within the channel.

[0013] U.S. Pat No. 6,041,480 to White discloses a seat belt lock cover for selectively preventing the child from accessing the seat belt release button. The theory of operation is that a child will not depress two buttons on opposite sides of the device. There is no reason why a child, of 3 to 4 years of age, could not unlatch the device and release the seat belt.

[0014] While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed; or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0015] It is the intention of this invention to provide a seat belt enhancement that effectively prevents a child from releasing the seat belt.

[0016] It is another object of this invention to provide a seat belt enhancement which allows an adult or older child, over 8 years of age, to easily release the seat belt.

[0017] It is further the object of this invention to produce a seat belt enhancement which decreases the possibility of accidental release of the seat belt. Thus a parent/driver need not be concerned that a child thought to be secured in the seat is, in fact, unsecured.

[0018] It is yet a further object of this invention that the enhancement be permanent, attractive, and slim. Accordingly, any device that adds any substantial bulk to a seat belt would not be used and the benefits of said device will be lost.

[0019] The invention is a permanent enhancement to a seat belt having a seat belt release button that complies with Title 49 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations in size and force required for release. The invention is comprised of a molded body of a material that allows for the device to be slim, attractive and of high durability.

[0020] To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact; however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the invention.

[0022]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view illustrating the relationship of the inventions release button and the release button of the seat belt.

[0023]FIG. 3 is an end view illustrating the opening to receive the tongue of the seat belt.

[0024]FIG. 4 is an end view illustrating the connection of the seat belt strap to the buckle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025]FIG. 1 illustrates a permanent enhancement (B) over the buckle of seat belt (A) and the tongue (C) inserts into the buckle with enhancement (B) in the standard manner of seat belt (A).

[0026]FIG. 2 illustrates the permanent enhancement (D) on the seat belt buckle (G). The release button (E) is variable in size to produce the desired release force. Furthermore, release button (E) can be embossed with the word “press” and/or colorized to indicate the desired use. The air gap (F) is variable in width to produce the desired release force. By selective use of the release button (E) size and width of the air gap (F) materials may be formed to meet the specifications of this invention with the smallest dimension possible.

[0027]FIG. 3 illustrates an end view of the device, in which, the enhancement (H) overlaps the end of the buckle (I) that receives the tongue without interfering with the tongue receiver (J).

[0028]FIG. 4 illustrates an end view of the device, in which, the enhancement (K) fully covers the strap end of the buckle, but a slot (L) is provided for the attachment of the strap to the buckle. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A permanent enhancement to the female section (buckle) of a seat belt or child safety seat belt comprised of: Rubber, plastic, polymers, or composite materials. The material is chosen to provide a resistance force to adequately dissuade the average child of 2 to 8 years of age from releasing the buckle. The material covers the end of the buckle to prevent lifting or removal by a child. The material completely covers the buckle to prevent removal. The enhancement is manufactured by methods suitable for the material of choice and encase the buckle of the seat belt or child safety seat belt. The device is slim, attractive, and permanent.
 2. A child resistant seat belt comprised of: A release button of variable dimensions as to conform to Title 49 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, and to adjust the release force to be adequate to disuade a child under 8 years of age from releasing the belt. The release button is separated from the main body of the seat belt by an air gap of a distance to regulate the force required for release of the buckle.
 3. A seat belt cover comprised of: A material covering both ends of the seat belt with a slot provided to accept the tongue without interfering with the normal operation of the seat belt. The strap attachment is covered with the material for safety and resistance to removal. 